Allergies and Chronic Sinusitis

Allergies are the result of a heightened immune response to various external substances. When someone says they’ve had lifelong allergies and/ or chronic sinusitis, then the underlying cause is often food sensitivities.

Symptoms may include:

• • Difficulty breathing
  • Chronic congestion
  • Chronic cough or clearing of the throat
  • Recurrent sinus infections
  • History of sinus surgery
  • Recurrent bronchitis
  • Frequent upper respiratory infections
  • Frequent headaches
  • Intolerance to strong scents, smells, perfume
  • Food cravings
  • Concomitant digestive complaints

Unlike food allergies, which cause an immediate IgE emergency immune response, food sensitivities are a delayed IgG immune response. Therefore, it is difficult to track food sensitivities. Something you ate on Monday may not create an overt immune reaction until Wednesday. Physiologically, however, the reaction will stay in your body for up to seven days.

Over time, regularly eating a food or substance to which we are sensitive can result in chronic inflammation of the intestinal track, which can lead to what is commonly known as leaky gut. The result of leaky gut is that the intestines are less able to properly digest and absorb nutrients from food (malabsorption). In severe cases, even the absorption of medications and nutraceuticals can also be impaired. In some cases, the individual may become reactive to everything they eat. Or they may struggle to mount any immune response at all.

Ultimately, leaky gut reduces the resiliency of your entire body so that it is less able to manage other health issues. For example, research is now demonstrating how the health of the intestinal track is an integral part of both the immune system and the mind-body connection. Removing food sensitivities and healing the gut are the first steps in reducing the allergic load on the body and healing the whole person.